Chapter 220
"No, that's not it."
The man wanted to say something more.
Ahead, the air exploded.
Then, a figure descended from the sky and landed in front of the three of them.
"!!!"
The three of them immediately stopped in their tracks, frozen in place.
The newcomer was dressed in black.
He wore a black Chakra armor and carried a katana on his back.
It slowly descended from the sky, eventually hovering several meters in the air.
"Amakawa... Akito."
A moment later, they murmured this name, which was full of power.
Three years ago.
The elite squads formed by Konoha, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure were easily neutralized by Amakawa Akito.
After that battle.
His information became widely known among the upper echelons of the Three Great Shinobi Villages.
"Three years later, he first appeared in the Land of Snow and quelled the rebellion... and now he's here. What does he want?"
"Hizashi Hyuga."
The Akito spoke slowly.
"Want to come over here?"
"?!"
A look of astonishment appeared on Hizashi Hyuga's face.
He had personally witnessed the earth-shattering power of the Akito when the Land of Sky invaded.
The village's Jonin Hayama Shirakumo, was instantly turned into mincemeat by Amakawa Akito.
It flew 1,000 meters away and completely disintegrated in mid-air.
Hizashi Hyuga believed he was very clear about Amakawa Akito's power.
"I know everything about you. Are you willing to die for the Main Family and fulfill the fate of the Branch Family?"
The Akito asked expressionlessly.
"..."
The two Anbu stood on either side of Hizashi Hyuga as if facing a formidable enemy.
"I... willingly gave my life to protect my brother and my family." Hizashi Hyuga slowly raised his head and spoke these words with a gloomy expression.
This was his realization, and also his final act of dignity.
"And then what? Can self-consolation really change the fact that the Branch Family were scapegoats, dying for the Main Family?" Akito tilted his head and asked rhetorically.
"Mr. Hizashi." The two Anbu looked at Hizashi Hyuga with tense expressions.
Don't worry.
Hizashi Hyuga gave the two a reassuring look, indicating that he would not act rashly.
Then, he looked at Akito: "Akito Mingren, I may not be able to completely refute your words, because deep down I also agree with some of them... However, my mind is made up now. As long as I sacrifice my life, there will be no war..."
"Um."
The Akito nodded slightly, his face remaining expressionless.
"But the mistake this time lies with Kumogakure. Don't you think... this arrangement is extremely unreasonable?"
Hizashi Hyuga lowered his head. "This is the world of ninjas..."
It is a... cruel world.
Many things are done without justice and reason, which is why professions like ninjas exist.
Hizashi Hyuga's words were tantamount to admitting that he had died in someone else's place.
Because the Kumogakure was clearly at fault, yet the Hyuga Clan ended up having to take responsibility.
Akito then asked, "After the Branch Family dies, the Caged Bird Seal will seal off the Byakugan's abilities. Do you think that if you hand your body over to Kumogakure, they will let it go, instead of continuing to demand your brother's body?"
"..."
Hizashi Hyuga silent.
He couldn't answer that question.
Because he is not in power, this is all he can do.
"Mr. Hizashi's sacrifice was not in vain!" At this moment, the male Anbu spoke up.
Female Anbu: "Even if he sacrifices his life, the Hokage will find a way to reach an agreement with Kumogakure!"
Akito immediately looked at the two of them. "So, you mean whether Hizashi Hyuga lives or dies, it won't affect the outcome, is that what you mean?"
"..."
The two members of the Anbu were immediately stuck.
"You see, your sacrifice was meaningless, Hizashi Hyuga."
The Akito turned their attention back to that direction.
"..."
Hizashi Hyuga silent, but the emotion revealed in his Byakugan made it clear that he was determined to leave.
Because even if the sacrifice is meaningless, other things are not something one can decide for oneself.
As a member of the Branch Family, all I could do was stand up and give my life...
"If you die, what will happen to your son, Neji Hyuga?" Akito asked again.
"!"
It seems to have hit a nerve.
Hizashi Hyuga's expression changed. "Neji..."
He murmured the child's name.
He couldn't even see his son one last time before he died.
"Neji... my brother will definitely take good care of him."
Hizashi Hyuga comforted himself in a hoarse voice.
"How do you know he'll be fine?" the Akito countered.
"Then how do you know he's not good?" Hizashi Hyuga retorted.
"I've been to Rōran and used the Power of the Dragon Vein to travel through time and space, so I know it's not good."
Akito can speak fluently without hesitation.
He simply told a lie.
When Rōran and the Power of the Dragon Vein were mentioned, Hizashi Hyuga finally lost his composure.
As a veteran Konoha Jonin.
He had heard of things like Rōran and the Power of the Dragon Vein.
It is said that the Power of the Dragon Vein was eventually sealed away by the Fourth Hokage.
"I've been to the future, and I've seen your son's future growth trajectory."
The Akito continued to recount his observations.
"In that environment, Neji Hyuga relied on his own talent to master the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms and the Rotation, surpassing the two heirs of the Main Family. Years later, he became Jonin. Then... at the age of 18, he encountered the fate of the Branch Family... to die in someone else's place. That is, the same way you died, both dying for the heir of the Main Family."
"Minato Namikaze, Hyuga Hiashi, Tsume Inuzuka, Shibi Aburame Choza Akimichi, Shikaku Nara, Inoichi Yamanaka, Kizashi Haruno... all these people, their children grew up healthy and peaceful. Among their peers, only your son died, and your family line ended. How do you feel about that?"
149. Konohamaru's Father and Mother
"!"
The attack from the Akito directly changed Hizashi Hyuga's gloomy expression.
It was an expression that was... indescribable.
Some were devastated, some found it hard to accept, anger, hatred...?
All these thoughts were displayed on one face, making it truly complex.
"Mr. Hizashi! Don't listen to his nonsense!"
Two Anbu whispered something.
Amakawa Akito's words have already disturbed Hizashi Hyuga.
If Hizashi Hyuga changes his mind, the situation between Konoha and Kumogakure will quickly deteriorate to an irreversible point...
"Being a ninja is a profession that involves facing life and death directly, so it's normal for you to be willing to die."
Akito ignored the two Anbu and continued speaking.
"But a ninja is first and foremost a person. If you compare a ninja to a tool without feelings, then you might as well just Sunagakure. Why would you need ninjas at all?"
"Just because you were born Hyuga Hiashi, you became Branch Family. Are you truly content with that?"
"Even if you accept your fate, do you want your son Neji Hyuga, to accept his fate as well?"
"Neji has the talent of a ninja, while Hyuga Hinata of the Main Family, is not ninja material, but her father keeps forcing her. Can't you see that?"
"As parents, whether it's the Main Family or Branch Family, you should first put yourself in your children's shoes and think about what they want."
"If you don't want your children to follow in your footsteps, that is... the Hokage's son is the Hokage, the strategist's son is a strategist, the son who dies for someone else dies for someone else... then start with you, the father, to change your destiny. Only in this way can you escape fatalism and the theory of bloodline."
Akito's words.
Hizashi Hyuga immediately closed his eyes, caught in a fierce internal struggle.
Neji, who lost his mother at a young age, was branded with the Caged Bird Seal, and if he were to die in the future, he would also die for the sake of the Main Family.
Therefore, all sorts of excuses are meaningless...
After all, when a person dies, they have nothing left...
"Your Excellency Akito Dynasty!"
Seeing Hizashi Hyuga truly made him waver.
The two Anbu panicked.
"You openly bewitched our village's ninjas, wouldn't that be considered an act of hostility?"
"If you were on the road and saw someone about to kill an innocent person, would you two go to save them?" Akito asked directly.
You stand on your moral high ground?
Then I'll stand even higher than you!
Anbu: "Hmph! Regardless of the circumstances, Akito has already interfered in the internal affairs of Konoha!"
"So what?"
The Akito tilted his head.
"You're allowed to Konoha our Land of Rain, but we're not allowed to correct your mistakes?"
"..."
After a verbal exchange, the two were left speechless.
"So, are you planning to kill Hizashi Hyuga first, or will you attack me directly?"
The Akito looked at the two of them with disdain.